McCoy's Premier League Darts Half-Term Report

THE league phase of the McCoy's Premier League Darts reached its half-way stage with the seventh night at The O2 in Dublin last week, and we look back on the first half of the campaign.

The tournament saw it's fifth nine-dart finish hit when Phil Taylor achieved the feat in week two at the AECC in Aberdeen.

Taylor also hit a Premier League record average of 117.35 in his week three victory over Simon Whitlock in Exeter, and tops the league table after remaining unbeaten following seven games.

This is how some of the McCoy's Premier League Darts stars assessed their first seven weeks:
Phil Taylor - first in league table
"I'm delighted with how it's gone so far. The results last week went for me, because now other players have to win three or four games to catch me up, so it's taken the pressure off me.

"With another couple of wins I think I'll have qualified, and that's what you want to do. You want to get through to the last four and that's the aim at the moment.

"I'm going to make sure I keep trying harder and keep getting better, and that's what I'm doing - and I've still got another gear!"

Raymond van Barneveld - second in league table
"I'm very happy to be second in the league. All the guys are playing such good darts at the moment and every week is a final.

"I'm relaxed. I've been doing some meditation and breathing exercises and that's helping.

"When I got the Wildcard I was over the moon, and I said to a few people that I want to prove a few people wrong who said that I was finished.

"To be second in the league after seven games proves I can still play the game, and I'm looking forward to the next seven weeks.

"I'm aiming to be in the top four, and playing the final and winning this tournament would be a dream."

Simon Whitlock - third in league table
"Eight points is a great total for the first half; I think you're going to need 14 to get through to the Play-Offs - it's been 14 I think every year I've played in it so I'm slightly in front at the minute.

"My scoring's there, I've got to hit some more doubles. Consistency is the key, to be consistent on hitting your scores and then hitting your doubles."

Gary Anderson - fourth in league table
"I'm still in the hunt and although it's pretty tight my leg difference is okay, and that could come into it.

"I think this will be the tighest Premier League I've seen but I'm looking forward to the next eight weeks - I'm counting on seven and if I make the eighth week then it's a bonus.

"Last week, even though I lost, was probably the best I've played in the seven weeks, so it's getting there."
* Gary Anderson was speaking before being ruled out of week eight

Adrian Lewis - seventh in league table
"To go to the last game of the first half to get a win shows how tough the field is. I've turned the corner with getting my first win and I think there'll be no stopping me now.

"I know there's a lot more to come and I can go from strength to strength. I felt a lot more confident in myself and my form's coming back.

"I'm treating every game as if it's a final but I don't think there's any reason I can't go on to finish in the top two."

Andy Hamilton - bottom of league table
"I think I've played well - no-one's smashed me on that board and I've given a good account of myself. It's only my own inexperience which has shown, but the Premier League is a big thing for me, and for any player.

"It's a big learning curve and I'm learning every week.

"In the first half I've been learning and in the second half I want to pick up a few more points. I want to be solid, and the results will come."

Key Stats following Week Seven
Taylor has a tournament average of 109.45 following the first half of the league season, with Raymond van Barneveld posting the second-highest total with 100.04, which was increased last week with his brilliant 107.22 average in Dublin.

Van Barneveld has jumped up to second in the league table after winning three of his last four games, moving him ahead of Simon Whitlock on leg difference, with the Australian having picked up two wins and a draw in his last three matches.

Whitlock has hit the tournament's highest finish so far with a 164 in week six against Anderson, who has landed only one ton-plus checkout and nine 180s less than at the same stage last year.

Taylor has hit the most ton-plus finishes with nine, one more than Kevin Painter and two ahead of James Wade, who lost his opening three games but won three in a row.

World Champion Adrian Lewis has hit the most 180s with 35 - six more than van Barneveld - but had to wait until week seven in Dublin to pick up his first victory of the season.

League Table Following Week Seven

	P	W	D	L	+/-	Pts
Phil Taylor	7	6	1	0	+29	13
Raymond van Barneveld	7	3	2	2	+2	8
Simon Whitlock	7	3	2	2	+1	8
Gary Anderson	7	3	0	4	+2	6
Kevin Painter	7	3	0	4	-3	6
James Wade	7	3	0	4	-9	6
Adrian Lewis	7	1	3	3	-9	5
Andy Hamilton	7	1	2	4	-13	4

Form

Phil Taylor	DWWWWWW
Raymond van Barneveld	DDLWLWW
Simon Whitlock	DWLLWWD
Gary Anderson	LWWWLLL
Kevin Painter	WLWLWLL
James Wade	LLLWWWL
Adrian Lewis	DDDLLLW
Andy Hamilton	WLDLLLD

Overall Statistics

	League Points	Legs Played	Legs Won	Legs Lost	LWAT	Average
Taylor	13	81	55	26	20	109.45
Barneveld	8	94	48	46	17	100.04
Whitlock	8	89	45	44	14	96.85
Anderson	6	82	42	40	14	92.45
Painter	6	89	43	46	17	90.55
Wade	6	89	40	49	10	94.97
Lewis	5	87	39	48	11	95.58
Hamilton	4	89	38	51	9	93.96

* LWAT = Legs Won Against Throw

Scoring Statistics

	100+	140+	180	100+ Finishes
Taylor	94	74	26	9 (147, 132, 131, 120, 110, 107, 104, 102, 100)
Barneveld	112	72	29	4 (145, 126, 120, 109)
Whitlock	109	70	26	4 (164, 152, 118, 104)
Anderson	110	59	19	1 (128)
Painter	109	63	13	8 (157, 134, 128, 127, 123, 118, 114, 110)
Wade	118	64	21	7 (154, 126, 121, 118, 114, 110, 107)
Lewis	101	42	35	5 (140, 138, 130, 106, 100)
Hamilton	97	48	22	1 (150)

League Table Comparison
After Seven Weeks

2011	Pts	2012	Pts
Taylor	12	Taylor	13
Barneveld	10	Barneveld	8
Anderson	8	Whitlock	8
Lewis	7	Anderson	6
Whitlock	6	Painter	6
Jenkins	5	Wade	6
Webster	4	Lewis	5
Wade	4	Hamilton	4